Device for converting rotational movement into axial movement

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for converting rotational movement into axial movement. Said device comprises planetary rollers ( 7 ) driven by a drive shaft ( 5 ) projecting from a drive device ( 1 ) and maintained peripherally at a same distance, in addition to a push body ( 3 ) axially displaced by the planetary rollers ( 7 ), wherein the planetary rollers ( 7 ) are peripherally fixed on a support ( 6 ) which is driven around the axis thereof, said rollers being rotationally mounted and provided with peripheral grooves or threaded grooves; the support ( 6 ) is connected in a toque fixed manner to the drive shaft ( 5 ) rotating around its axis; the planetary rollers ( 7 ) engage in at least one thread-like groove of the push body ( 3 ) that is displaced along the axis of the support ( 6 ) by means of their peripheral grooves or threaded grooves; the support ( 6 ) drives the planetary rollers ( 7 ); the push body ( 3 ) is embodied as a hollow body encompassing the planetary rollers ( 7 ); a bearing body ( 9 ) that has peripheral bearing grooves ( 11 ) or threaded grooves and that can rotate independently around its axis relative to the drive shafts ( 5 ) and concentrically inside the planetary rollers ( 7 ) is provided in the center of the support ( 6 ). The bearing grooves ( 11 ) or threaded grooves of said bearing body engage in the corresponding peripheral grooves or threaded grooves of the planetary rollers ( 7 ). The invention aims at providing simple and functionally safe mounting of the bearing body ( 9 ).

[0001] This invention relates to a device for converting an rotational movement into an axial movement according to the preamble of Patent claim 1.

[0002] Such a device is known from European Patent 0 870 129 B1.

[0003] This invention is concerned with the problem of creating a simpler and functionally better support of the bearing body, which receives the axial forces of the planetary rollers.

[0004] This invention solves this problem with a generic device having the characterizing features of Patent claim 1.

[0005] An expedient embodiment is the object of claim 2.

[0006] An embodiment of claim 3 has the advantage that the drive mechanism can be arranged in a space-saving manner in the axial direction, either at an angle to or parallel to the axis of rotation of the thrust body or the support of the planetary rollers.

[0007] Claim 4 defines advantageous special devices according to this invention. A short-stroke engine or a geared engine may be used as the drive unit. The belt pulleys may be in particular those used on CVT gears (CVT=continuously variable transmission) in the form of two pairs of belt pulleys with a belt or chain for infinitely adjustable changes in transmission ratio. One pair of belt pulleys must be used to change the transmission ratio and the other must be adjusted axially to achieve the prestress of the tension means. One disadvantage of the hydraulic systems used for this purpose in the past is a poor efficiency, which is improved significantly by the method according to this invention.

[0008] The brake shoe linings to be adjusted axially are brake linings on disk and drum brakes having a known design. The brake linings can be adjusted better through the control technology with the device according to this invention, which operates electromechanically, than with the hydraulically operated systems used for this purpose in the past. This is true in particular with so-called brake-by-wire systems, which do not require any mechanical connection with an actuating means to be operated by the driver.

[0009] Another application is the operation of clutch elements, e.g., on multi-disk clutches, where a reverse self-locking design is especially advantageous energetically.

[0010] This invention is based on the general idea of supporting the bearing body in bearings, which are supported on stationary areas of the drive mechanism used with the device according to this invention.

[0011] One embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the drawing.

[0012] The only figure shows:

[0013]FIG. 1 a device for converting a rotational movement into an axial movement in a front view in part and in a longitudinal section in another part.

[0014] The device referred to below as a linear actuator for converting a rotational movement into an axial movement has two oppositely longitudinally displaceable parts, namely a drive mechanism 1 having a cylindrical guide area 2 and a tubular thrust body 3 which is slidably mounted on the guide area 2 of the drive mechanism 1.

[0015] The drive mechanism 1 may also be arranged in an axial offset relative to the drive shaft 5 according to claim 3. In this case, the force may be transmitted over a gearwheel drive or a belt drive. In the case of an arrangement of drive mechanism 1 and drive shaft 5 having the same axis, the drive mechanism 1 may be provided inside or outside the path of displacement of the thrust body 3.

[0016] On the cylindrical inside surface, the thrust body 3 is provided with a threaded groove 4.

[0017] From the drive mechanism 1, a drive shaft 5 drives a support 6 in which the planetary rollers 7 are rotatably mounted. The planetary rollers 7 are provided with peripheral grooves or threaded grooves, which mesh with the threaded groove 4 on the thrust body 3. Therefore, there is a relative displacement between the drive mechanism 1 and the thrust body 3 in the case of a driven support 6.

[0018] The connection of support 6 to the drive shaft 5 is accomplished via a shaft 8, which is fixedly connected to the drive shaft 5 and support 6. The shaft 8 may also be designed in one piece with the support 6.

[0019] A bearing body 9 is used to support the axial forces occurring in the planetary rollers 7 in operation of the linear actuator. This bearing body 9 is designed as a hollow shaft which is secured axially by roller bearings 10, and is rotatably mounted on a ring 13 which is fixedly connected to the housing of the drive mechanism 1. In the area in which this bearing body 9 is radially inside the planetary rollers 7, it has bearing grooves 11, which engage in the grooves of the planetary rollers 7. The shaft 8, by means of which the support 6 is connected to the drive shaft 5, passes through the bearing body 9.

[0020] Support by roller bearings 12 is provided between the bearing body 9 and the shaft 8. 

1. A device for converting a rotational movement into an axial movement, having a planetary roller (7) driven by a drive shaft (5) coming out of a drive mechanism (1) and held at a uniform distance on the circumference, and having a thrust body (3) that is axially displaceable by the planetary rollers (7), whereby the planetary rollers (7) are secured at the periphery in a support (6) which is driven about it axis, they are rotationally mounted and provided with peripheral grooves or threaded grooves, the support (6) is connected in a fixed-torque manner to the drive shaft (5) which rotates about its axis, the planetary rollers (7) engage in at least one thread-like groove on the thrust body (3) which is displaceable along the axis of the support (6) by way of their peripheral grooves or threaded grooves, the support (6) drives the planetary rollers (7), the thrust body (3) is designed as a hollow body which encloses the planetary rollers (7), at the center of the support (6) concentrically inside the planetary rollers (7), a bearing body (9) is provided; it can rotate independently of the drive shaft (5) about its axis, having an area of peripheral bearing grooves (11) or threaded grooves, said bearing grooves (11) or threaded grooves engaging in respective peripheral grooves or threaded grooves on the planetary rollers (7), characterized by the features the bearing body (9) is designed to be tubular and is rotatably mounted and is axially secured at one end relative to the drive mechanism (1), for a torque-fixed connection of the support (6) to the drive shaft (5), an area of the support (6) which may be designed as a shaft (8) fixedly connected to this support (6), passes through the center of the bearing body (9) in a freely rotatable manner.
 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing body (9) and the area of the support (6) which passes through the bearing body are roller bearing mounted opposite one another.
 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive mechanism (1) and the drive shaft (5) have mutually offset axes of rotation, this offset being implemented through force transmission means.
 4. The device according to one of the preceding claims for adjusting a belt pulley or a brake lining and for actuation of clutch elements in motor vehicles in particular. 